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EXTENSION  SERIES 

Volume  i      Number  2 

SCHOOL   IMPROVEMENT 
AGENCIES 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  SUPERINTENDENTS 
AND  PRINCIPALS 

BY 

W.  W.  Charters 

Dean  of  the  School  of  Education,  University  of  Missouri 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MISSOURI 

COLUMBIA,  MISSOURI 
July,  1913 


dJ 


•-"• 


SCHOOL  IMPROVEMENT  AGENCIES 

DISSIPATED   ENERGY 

The  people  of  the  United  States  are  committed  to  no 
one  national  principle  so  unreservedly  and  unanimously  as 
to  that  of  popular  education.  This  is  shown  in  the  amount 
of  taxes  paid  for  school  purposes,  the  relative  costliness  of 
school  houses  among  public  buildings  and  in  the  sacrifices 
made  to  keep  children  in  school. 

Superintendents  and  principals  of  ward  schools,  how- 
ever, realize  through  intimate  acquaintance  wdth  school  pa- 
trons that  conditions  are  not  yet  by  any  means  ideal,  and  that 
though  much  has  been  done,  much  remains  to  do  before  the 
schools  receive  the  full  support  which  their  importance  de- 
mands. But  in  spite  of  this  realization,  only  a  fractional 
part  of  the  interest  of  school  patrons  in  the  welfare  of  chil- 
dren is  at  present  being  utilized.  A  vast  amount  of  interest 
and  energy  is  being  dissipated  every  year  because  of  lack  of 
organization.  The  interest  of  mothers  and  fathers  in  the 
welfare  and  schooling  of  their  children  is  expressed  at  present 
almost  entirely  through  the  payment  of  school  taxes  and  the 
care  of  the  children  in  the  home.  The  school  board  is  the 
only  channel  of  expression  of  this  interest  in  the  majority  of 
school  communities. 

Any  agency  which  can  harness  and  organize  this  parental 
and  civic  interest  in  schools  and  in  education  should  be  util- 
ized to  the  full  by  the  school  teacher,  principal  and  super- 
intendent. 

SOME  RESULTS  OF  ORGANIZED  ENERGY  IN  MISSOURI 

In  Maryville  an  emergency  rest  room  has  been  estab- 
lished; in  Milan  a  curfew  law  has  been  passed;  in  Elsberry 
sanitary  drinking  fountains  were  installed  in  the  school;  in 
Irondale  money  was  raised  by  box  suppers  to  light  the  school 
house  and  paint  the  interior;  in  Stanberry  a  "clean-up  day" 


4  UNIVERSITY   OF   MISSOURI    BULLETIN 

was  organized,  and  $500  was  collected  for  a  sane  Fourth ; 
in  Unionville  better  sanitary  conditions  in  the  school  have 
been  secured;  in  St.  Louis  the  school  board  was  taken  out  of 
politics;  and  in  Kansas  City  and  other  cities  of  the  state 
many  things  which  the  school  board  could  not  do  have  been 
done  by  organizing  patrons. 

"In  a  parents'  and  teachers'  meeting  the  mother  learns 
how  she  is  hindering  the  school  work  of  her  children  and  the 
school  at  large;  discovers  that  her  children  cannot  live  for 
themselves  alone  if  they  wish  to  live  in  the  best  way.  The 
purely  animal  mother,  not  yet  beyond  the  stage  of  fighting 
for  her  children,  right  or  wrong,  learns,  as  she  listens  to  the 
discussions,  that  her  child  cannot  have  his  rights  unless  he 
is  willing  to  allow  equal  rights  to  others ;  that  the  give  and 
take  of  school  life  is  the  best  of  discipline.  She  finds  out 
that  only  by  conformity  to  the  school  rules  can  her  boy  take 
his  rightful  place.  The  heedless  parent  learns  that  tardiness 
and  absence  are  not  small  matters  concerning  her  daughter 
alone,  but  hindrances  to  the  school,  by  which  her  child  sufifers 
equally  with  all  the  rest.  The  self-centered  parent  discovers 
that  in  school,  as  in  life,  the  good  of  the  whole  must  be  con- 
sidered, and  the  over-ambitious  ones  ascertain  that  some 
kinds  of  home  helps  are  obstacles  to  school  advancement. 

"On  the  other  hand,  the  teacher,  somewhat  over-balanced 
by  too  much  dwelling  on  system  and  curricula,  finds  her  sym- 
pathies refreshed  by  coming  into  contact  with  the  home  rela- 
tions of  the  children.  She  realizes  more  vividly  the  condi- 
tions under  which  they  must  study  at  home,  makes  fairer 
allowances  for  shortcomings,  and  is  often  able  to  suggest 
changes  that  are  most  helpful  to  her  charges.  The  contact 
of  untrained  mothers  with  the  trained  mind  of  the  teacher  is 
of  incalculable  value  to  the  home  and  to  the  school." 

These  are  a  few  of  the  advantages  that  follow  when 
superintendents  and  principals  do  not  depend  entirely  upon 
the  interest  of  the  six  busy  men  who  constitute  the  school 
board. 


SCHOOL    IMPROVEMENT    AGENCIES  5 

ORGANIZATIONS 

There  are  several  types  of  organization  which  may  be 
used  by  school  officials  for  concentrating  the  dissipated  energy 
of  interest  in  schools.  These  overlap  each  other  somewhat 
because  they  are  each  working  upon  the  same  problem  of 
education.  Two  of  them  are  women's  organizations ;  the  third 
is  composed  of  both  women  and  men. 

Women's  Clubs. —  The  women's  club  movement  has 
shown  remarkable  vitality  and  has  expanded  during  the  last 
three  decades.  The  problems  it  has  labored  with  are  multi- 
farious, and  much  friendly  and  unfriendly  fun  has  been  made 
of  its  activities.  But  the  far-seeing  educator  recognizes  in 
the  movement  great  potential  effectiveness  in  solving  educa- 
tional problems.  Women  are  biologically  and  historically  the 
educators  of  children.  Men  are  only  secondarily  interested 
in  the  education  of  children,  yet  they  constitute  the  member- 
ship of  school  boards  in  this  state.  This  is  the  case,  however, 
not  because  of  their  greater  interest  in  education,  but  because 
of  the  accident  of  politics — since  women  are  not  voters  in 
this  state  and,  therefore,  cannot  administer  school  moneys. 

The  woman's  club  is  not  primarily  interested  in  the  edu- 
cation of  children,  but  it  often  has  a  department  of  education 
through  which  it  comes  into  touch  with  school  problems  and 
frequently  does  very  effective  work. 

The  women's  clubs  are  organized  nationally  as  "The 
General  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,"  the  Missouri  branch 
having  many  local  clubs  in  affiliation.  It  has  a  Department 
of  Education,  of  which  Mrs.  Henry  N.  Ess,  2416  Brooklyn 
Avenue,  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  is  chairman.  Mrs.  Ess  and 
her  committee  are  doing  efficient  work  in  initiating  and  sup- 
porting school  legislation,  in  working  out  educational  pro- 
grams for  local  clubs,  and  in  the  giving  of  scholarships  to 
Missouri  girls  who  are  fitting  themselves  for  self  support. 

Superintendents  and  principals  can  get  the  matters  they 
wish  to  further  to  the  attention  of  these  clubs  through  Mrs. 


b  UNIVERSITY   OF    MISSOURI   BULLETIN 

Ess,  if  they  are  of  state  wide  interest,  and  through  the  local 
clubs  if  the  proposition  is  purely  local. 

Mothers'  Clubs. — The  Mothers'  Club  is  a  form  of  organi- 
zation whose  primary  purpose  is  the  improvement  of  condi- 
tions for  the  rearing  and  education  of  children,  both  in  the 
school  and  outside.  This  comprehensive  purpose  necessitates 
a  wide  diversity  of  activities,  a  fact  shown  by  the  presence 
of  such  departments  as  Children's  Literature,  Education,  Lit- 
erature for  Mothers,  Child  Hygiene,  Juvenile  Courts,  Child 
Labor,  Home  Economics,  Child  W^elfare  Legislation,  Rural 
Child  Welfare,  Good  Roads,  and  Marriage  Sanctity. 

School  Patrons'  Clubs. — The  third  type  of  agency  is  the 
club  composed  of  both  men  and  women  whose  primary  pur- 
pose is  the  education  of  children. 

In  many  communities  these  clubs  are  known  as  Parent- 
Teacher  Associations.  As  the  name  indicates,  the  teacher  is 
given  an  efficient  position  in  the  organization  and  the  meet- 
ings are  usually  held  in  school  buildings.  For  the  most  part 
the  meetings  are  held  in  the  afternoon  and,  hence,  are  at- 
tended chiefly  by  mothers,  but  with  frequent  evening  sessions 
for  both  men  and  women.  In  St.  Louis  alone  there  are  nearly 
2,000  mothers  in  such  Associations,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
Patrons'  Alliance. 

The  Patrons'  Alliance  of  St.  Louis  is  composed  of  men 
only  and  has  done  during  its  fourteen  years  of  existence  a 
remarkable  work.  It  has  taken  the  public  schools  out  of  par- 
tisan politics ;  has  been  instrumental  in  increasing  taxes  for 
school  purposes ;  and  has  supplied  from  its  own  funds  school 
equipment  aggregating  thousands  of  dollars.  This  equipment 
includes  such  articles  as  works  of  reference,  stereopticons, 
folding  chairs,  reflectoscopes,  pianos,  statuary  and  pictures. 
One  of  the  pictures  given  in  this  way  cost  $3,500  and  another 
is  worth  $2,000.  In  addition,  it  arranges  appropriate  exer- 
cises for  the  commemoration  of  national  holidays,  aids  prin- 
cipals in  making  necessary  arrangements   for   annual   school 


SCHOOL    IMPROVEMENT    AGENCIES  7 

picnics,   Christmas   festivals  and  other  school   functions  and 
exercises. 

The  Mothers'  Clubs  and  the  Parent-Teacher  Circle  are 
organized  nationally  under  the  title  National  Congress  of 
Mothers  and  Parent-Teacher  Associations,  with  branches  in 
thirty-six  states.  Missouri  was  organized  in  March,  1912, 
the  President  being  Mrs.  James  Nugent,  5847  Maple  Avenue, 
St.  Louis.  Mrs.  E.  R.  Weeks,  Vice  President  of  the  national 
organization  from  Missouri,  is  doing  an  effective  and  unselfish 
work  in  helping  to  organize  and  maintain  interest  in  these 
clubs.  In  the  Triennial  Handbook  of  the  National  Congress 
issued  in  1911,  local  clubs  in  Missouri  in  affiliation  with  the 
national  organization  are  situated  in  Kansas  City,  Butler, 
Unionville,  Milan,  Stanberry  and  Irondale.  For  information, 
literature  and  personal  assistance,  school  officials  are  invited 
to  write  to  Mrs.  E.  R.  Weeks,  3408  Harrison  Street,  Kansas 
City,  Missouri. 

School  Improvement  Associations.  —  Under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  state  of  Maine,  local  clubs  known  as  School  Im- 
provement Leagues,  and  School  Betterment  Associations  have 
been  formed  in  several  states.  These  have  had  a  rather  wide 
development  in  the  southern  states,  particularly  in  the  rural 
districts.  There  is  no  national  organization,  and  in  Missouri 
no  state  organization.  Few  clubs  have  been  formed,  though 
the  Kirksville  State  Normal  School  has  recently  through  its 
school  paper.  The  Rural  School  Messenger,  been  pushing  the 
formation  of  Rural  School  Improvement  Clubs.  For  infor- 
mation about  these  associations,  the  "Year-Book  of  School 
Improvement  in  Arkansas,"  published  by  Honorable  George 
B.  Cook,  State  Superintendent,  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  is 
probably  the  best. 

Social  Centres. — Another  form  of  agency  which  is  fur- 
thering educational  interests  is  the  Social  Center  Movement. 
Here  the  school  is  benefited  indirectly  through  the  efforts  to 
"give  the  school  building  its  widest  range  of  activity."  This 
movement  has  been  recently  organized  nationally.    At  present 


8  UNIVERSITY   OF    MISSOURI    BULLETIN 

the  best  source  of  information  is  the  Social  Center  Service, 
Farm  and  Ranch,  Dallas,  Texas. 

THE  USE  OF  THESE  AGENCIES 

In  school  communities  where  women's  organizations  are 
already  formed,  the  Superintendent  by  co-operation  with 
them  can  frequently  get  very  effective  assistance  in  pushing 
movements  for  school  buildings  and  sanitary  conditions,  for 
improvement  of  equipment,  etc.,  especially  where  these  neces- 
sities can  be  made  to  have  a  popular  appeal.  Frequently,  too, 
the  women's  clubs  have  provided  money  for  needed  improve- 
ments when  the  school  board  could  not.  The  Superintendent 
can  get  this  co-operation  both  by  dealing  directly  with  the 
club  leaders  and  by  having  strong  women  teachers  take  up 
propositions  in  the  clubs  to  which  they  belong.  What  is 
needed  in  women's  clubs  is  not  interest  in  school  affairs ;  the 
interest  merely  needs  direction. 

In  school  communities  where  there  are  no  clubs  that  are 
available  for  school  purposes,  if  the  Superintendent  feels  the 
need  for  them,  it  is  advisable  to  form  clubs  in  which  both  men 
and  women  are  represented  and  whose  primary  purpose  is 
the  improvement  of  school  conditions.  The  membership 
should  not  be  limited  to  parents  only,  but  should  be  available 
to  all  patrons. 

The  best  unit  for  organization  in  cities  and  towns  with 
more  than  one  school  building  is  the  district  or  ward  from 
which  the  children  go  to  one  building.  The  usual  meeting 
place  is  the  school  building.  It  is  probably  wise  to  have  an 
organization  for  women  which  meets  in  the  afternoon  and  one 
for  men  which  meets  at  night,  since  school  matters  which  in- 
terest men  are  not  always  quite  the  same  as  those  which  in- 
terest women.  Joint  meetings  may  be  held  at  which  matters 
of  common  interest  are  taken  up. 

The  constitution  and  machinery  should  be  made  as  sim- 
ple as  possible.  The  most  important  committee  is  that  on 
program.     On  this  there  should    be    an    active  and  efficient 


SCHOOL    IMPROVEMENT    AGENCIES  ^ 

teacher,  either  the  principal,  or  some  strong  member  of  the 
corps.     The  other  officers  should  all  be  patrons. 

OBJECTIONS  ARE  NOT  SERIOUS 

Sometimes  superintendents  fear  that  such  organizations 
may  become  officious  and  do  harm  to  the  schools  because  of 
misguided  ignorance  of  school  conditions.  This  is  not  a  seri- 
ous matter  where  care  is  taken  in  keeping  the  groups  well 
directed.  It  is  not  advisable,  for  instance,  to  organize  such  a 
club  when  the  principal  or  some  other  teacher  who,  because 
of  age  or  experience,  can  take  the  lead,  is  not  strong  enough 
to  keep  the  patrons  interested  and  at  work  on  helpful  prob- 
lems. Where  reasonable  care  is  taken  and  ordinary  tact  is 
used,  the  members  of  the  club  are  both  willing  and  anxious 
to  be  helpful  and  sympathetic. 

HOW  TO  ORGANIZE 

When  a  superintendent  and  principal  agree  that  a  mothers 
and  teachers  organization  should  be  formed  in  a  school,  the 
principal  should  talk  informally  to  a  few  energetic  women 
about  what  needs  to  be  accomplished  and  get  their  co-opera- 
tion. These  women  should  select  a  date  for  the  first  meeting 
and  prepare  a  list  of  other  women  whom  they  will  see  in  the 
meantime.  A  general  invitation  should  be  sent  to  all  mothers 
and  other  women  likely  to  be  interested.  This  can  be  done 
easily  by  having  the  children  write  the  invitations  as  a  com- 
position exercise  and  take  it  home  to  their  mothers  and 
neighbors.  Where  more  than  one  child  in  a  family  is  in  the 
school,  the  oldest  or  the  youngest  may  be  selected  to  write 
the  invitation.  Sometimes  it  is  advisable  to  state  that  ar- 
rangements have  been  made  for  a  creche,  or  kindergarten,  to 
care  for  the  babies  and  young  children  that  cannot  be  left  at 
home. 

In  order  to  secure  a  large  attendance,  as  attractive  a  pro- 
gram as  possible  should  be  prepared.  Parents'  Day  at  the 
school  may  be  announced  in  connection  with  the  opening 
meeting.    Have  in  the  assembly  room  an  exhibition  of  pupils' 


10  UNIVERSITY   OF   MISSOURI   BULLETIN 

work  from  the  different  grades  or  departments,  and  this  may- 
be shown  the  visitors  when  they  first  arrive.  Or,  a  short  pro- 
gram may  be  given  in  which  the  different  grades  contribute 
something — a  reading  lesson,  songs,  calisthenic  drills,  recita- 
tions and  the  like. 

After  the  program  has  been  given,  one  of  those  issuing 
the  call  should  state  the  real  purpose  of  the  meeting:  to  or- 
ganize a  Patrons  Club,  Mothers  Club,  Parent-Teacher  Asso- 
ciation, or  whatever  form  of  organization  is  best  suited  to  the 
community,  with  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  home  and  school 
closer  together  in  order  to  secure  the  best  training  for  the 
children. 

A  temporary  chairman  and  a  secretary  should  be  elected 
to  take  charge  of  the  meeting.  The  object  of  the  organization 
should  be  fully  explained  by  the  person  who  is  best  informed 
and  most  enthusiastic.  The  leader  should  bring  out  skillfully 
the  need  of  such  an  organization  in  that  community,  should 
give  some  of  the  topics  for  discussion,  point  out  improve- 
ments which  could  be  made  in  the  school  surroundings  and, 
if  possible,  tell  what  is  being  done  by  similar  associations  and 
something  of  the  scope  of  this  great  movement.  This  may 
be  followed  by  questions,  discussions,  and  expressions  from 
parents  and  teachers  as  to  whether  they  favor  such  an  organi- 
zation being  formed.  Motion  is  made  that  a  club  be  organized. 
Some  one  seconds  the  motion,  and  the  vote  is  taken.  If  the 
motion  is  carried,  a  committee  should  be  appointed  to  prepare 
a  constitution.  The  meeting  adjourns  to  a  date  not  later  than 
two  weeks. 

MODEL  CONSTITUTION 

Article  I — Name. 
The  name  of  this  organization  shall  be   

Article   II— Object. 

The  object  of  this  association  shall  be  to  further  a  closer 
sympathy  between  the  school  and  the  home,  to  the  end  that 
patrons  and  teachers  may  co-operate  intelligently  in  the  edu- 


SCHOOL    IMPROVEMENT    AGENCIES  11 

cation  of  the  children;  and  to  further  the  cause  of  education 
in  the  community. 

Article  III— Membership. 

Any  parent  or  teacher  in  the  district  and  any  person  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  children  may  become  a  member. 

Article  IV — Officers. 

The  officers  shall  consist  of  a  President,  a  Vice  Presi- 
dent, a  Secretary  and  a  Treasurer,  elected  annually  at  the  reg- 
ular meeting  in  May. 

Article  V— Committees. 

There  shall  be  the  following  standing  committees :  Mem- 
bership, Program,  and  such  others  as  shall  be  deemed  neces- 
sary. 

Article   VI — Meetings. 

Regular  meetings  shall  be  held  on  the 

of  each  month.     Special  meetings  may  be  called  by  order  of 
the  President,  or  upon  request  of  five  members. 
Article   VII — Amendments. 

This  constitution  may  be  amended  at  any  regular  meeting 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  present,  provided  the 
same  has  been  introduced  and  discussed  at  a  previous  meet- 
ing. 

Article  VIII — Departments. 

This  organization  may  have  tw-o  departments ;  one  for 
men  and  one  for  women,  to  be  known  as  the  Men's  depart- 
ment of    and  the  Women's  department 

of  the    Each  department   shall 

have  a  chairman,  a  secretary-treasurer  and  a  membership  and 
program  committee,  together  with  such  other  committees  as 
seem  necessary. 


At  the  second  meeting,  the  officers  of  the  first  serve. 
The  Secretary  reads  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting,  which 
are  approved  if  there  are  no  corrections. 

The  Committee  on  Constitution  reports.  The  Constitu- 
tion is  read,  amended  and  adopted. 


12  UNIVERSITY   OF    MISSOURI    BULLETIN 

Permanent  officers  are  then  elected,  according  to  the  pro- 
vision in  the  constitution.  Elect  a  parent  as  President  and 
let  the  organization  be  officered  largely  by  the  parents  and 
teachers  assisting  in  the  work. 

Appoint  a  program  committee  to  prepare  meeting  pro- 
grams and  entertainment  programs  that  will  be  worth  coming 
to  hear.  A  teacher  as  chairman  of  this  committee  would  be 
of  great  assistance. 

Meet  every  two  weeks  for  the  first  few  meetings  until 
the  organization  is  in  good  working  order.  The  meeting 
should  occasionally  be  held  in  the  evening,  so  that  the  fathers 
can  attend. 

In  order  to  keep  interest  alive,  immediately  appoint  some 
committee  and  set  them  to  work.  Give  the  circle  an  object 
to  work  for,  perhaps,  something  to  buy  for  the  school,  that 
will  take  and  hold  the  mothers.  They  will  then  see  some 
actual  work  going  on  that  will  make  them  feel  that  the  organ- 
ization is  worth  while. 

ORGANIZING  MEN'S  DEPARTMENT 

Usually  the  men's  department  should  be  organized  after 
the  women  have  been  organized,  because  the  women  talk 
about  it  to  their  husbands.  The  plan  of  procedure  for  or- 
ganizing is  similar  to  that  of  the  women. 

One  thing  that  must  be  taken  care  of  is  that  the  meeting 
should  be  as  informal  as  possible.  Hold  the  meetings  in  some 
place  where  the  men  may  move  around.  If  a  room  with 
school  seats  in  it  is  selected,  have  as  many  chairs  in  the  room 
as  possible.  If  the  men  are  to  be  interested  in  coming,  they 
need  to  feel  a  sense  of  freedom  and  the  absence  of  formality. 

A  lady  principal  can  organize  these  men's  departments 
any  carry  them  out  effectively. 

SUGGESTED  PROGRAMS 

The  program  is  the  factor  which  makes  the  success  or 
failure  of  the  movement.  It  is  absolutely  essential  that  it 
be  crisp  and  practical. 


SCHOOL    IMPROVEMENT   AGENCIES  13 

It  may  be  supplemented  by  having  such  things  as  tea 
and  wafers  for  women  and  patrons  teas  at  private  houses,  by 
having  a  baby  show,  or  by  having  children  take  part  in  a  pre- 
liminary program.  Often  attendance  is  stimulated  by  the 
hanging  of  a  picture  in  the  school  room  that  has  the  largest 
number  of  mothers  present  at  the  last  meeting. 

Programs  are  of  two  sorts — general  and  local.  The  Con- 
gress of  Mothers  provides  a  series  of  written  lectures  upon 
general  topics.  These  can  be  borrowed  for  twenty-iive  cents 
a  copy  and  information  about  them  may  be  secured  by  writing 
Mrs.  A.  A.  Birney,  806  Loan  and  Trust  Building,  Washington, 
D.  C.  One  of  these  may  be  used  to  good  advantage  occasion- 
ally. 

The  programs  for  the  most  part  should  consist  of  topics 
that  are  "up-to-the-minute"  among  the  members.  Every  year 
there  should  be  certain  things  chosen  which  are  to  be  done 
and  not  merely  talked  about.  The  enthusiasm  necessary  to 
carry  these  projects  through  should  be  generated  and  main- 
tained by  discussions  and  addresses  at  the  meetings,  for  as 
soon  as  the  meetings  become  perfunctory,  the  attendance  will 
dwindle.    Tap  the  interest  of  the  patrons  at  every  meeting. 

For  instance,  if  the  school  house  is  unsanitary  or  the 
grounds  unlovely  and  you  wish  to  improve  them  through  this 
agency,  have  a  tour  of  inspection,  pointing  out  what  is  wrong 
and  what  needs  to  be  done.  Have,  if  possible,  an  expert  to 
show  plans  for  ornamentation,  etc.,  and  before  the  meeting 
is  over,  see  that  a  committee  is  organized  to  do  something. 

Or  a  talk  may  be  given  about  the  amount  and  kind  of 
home  study  that  is  best,  what  help  may  be  given  at  home,  and 
the  proper  conditions  for  home  study. 

Or  a  physician  may  be  brought  in  to  talk  about  some 
definite  topic  (not  too  general)  such  as  the  prevention  of 
colds,  etc. 

Or  a  topic  such  as  the  difference  between  methods  of 
teaching  now  and  the  time  when  the  parents  were  in  school 
may  be  discussed. 


14  UNIVERSITY  OF   MISSOURI   BULLETIN 

Again,  in  the  men's  meetings,  in  addition  to  the  foregoing, 
discussions  may  be  had  upon  the  school  rate  and  the  expendi- 
ture of  moneys.  This  may  easily  form  a  good  place  for  the 
school  board  to  show  what  they  are  doing,  and  create  senti- 
ment for  what  they  want  to  do. 

The  essential  and  emphatic  value  of  these  programs  lies 
in  their  being  the  means  by  which  plans  for  betterment  of 
school  conditions  may  be  carried  out.  Unless  the  superinten- 
dent and  principal  have  live  plans  which  they  push  vigorously 
through  the  patrons,  the  organizations  are  usually  not  worth 
the  trouble.  If  these  school  officials  have  such  plans  and  are 
earnest  and  energetic  themselves,  there  are  no  agencies  so 
powerful. 

CITY  AND   STATE   UNIONS 

It  pays  to  have  a  central  organization  in  a  city  so  that 
all  the  force  of  the  clubs  may  be  turned  upon  the  city  prob- 
lems. It  is  wise,  unless  prohibited  by  the  slight  expense,  to 
have  a  membership  in  state  and  national  organizations  of  this 
sort — such  as  the  Congress  of  Mothers  and  Parent-Teacher 
Association.  For  information  concerning  the  method  of  se- 
curing membership,  write  to  the  National  Congress  of 
Mothers,  Washington,  D.  C. 

OUTSIDE  ASSISTANCE 

It  is  not  necessary  to  have  an  organizer  come  in  from 
the  outside.  The  method  of  organization  is  very  simple.  In 
case,  however,  a  fund  for  paying  traveling  expenses  is  avail- 
able, the  University  of  Missouri  will  usually  be  able  to  send 
some  one  to  help  organize,  or  Mrs.  Weeks,  Vice  President  of 
the  Mothers  Congress,  will  be  able  to  help  up  to  the  limit  of 
the  fund  she  has  for  the  purpose. 

However,  do  not  depend  upon  outside  assistance.  If 
you  are  in  earnest  and  feel  that  something  must  be  done,  de- 
pend upon  no  one  and  do  it  yourself. 

If  superintendents  and  principals  wish  any  information 
not  contained  in  this  pamphlet,  feel  perfectly  free  to  write  to 


SCHOOL    IMPROVEMENT    AGENCIES  15 

W.  W.  Charters,  Dean  of  the  School  of  Education,  Univer- 
sity of  Missouri,  Columbia,  Missouri. 


^^f^rsmmsif^ssssBiXi: 


DAY    AND    TO     *,  no  \r       ^  °'^  THE  FQUrtJ 
OVERDUE.  *'°°    °N    THE    SEVENTH     dIy 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


-r- 


THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MISSOURI 

BULLETIN 


EXTENSION  SERIES 


EDITED    BY 

SAMUEL  D.  GROMER 
Secretary   of  University   Extension. 


Published  by 
UNIVERSITY  OF  MISSOURI 
Columbia,  Missouri 
Issued   Qunrrerly 


Ap])ii.atiou    for   eutry    as    secoud-cluss    lu.-itter 
!it  the  postofflce  at  CoIumMa.  Missouri,   pending. 


Copies  of  tlie  University  of  Missouri  Bulletin,  Extension 
ics,  may  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary  of  University  Exten- 
1,  Columbia.  Missouri. 

3,000 


